Machine for ironing trousers

ABSTRACT

The machine comprises an ironing plate, which is adapted to be pressed against a stationary support, or two ironing plates, which are adapted to be pressed against a stationary, intermediate body having a intermediate recess, with the legs of the trousers being interposed between the ironing plates and said body. The ironing plates and the support body are provided with divided pressure plates, which extend substantially parallel to the creases and are disposed on both sides of the trouser seam.

Q United States Patent 1 [111 3,835,559

Kotter Sept. 17, 1974 [54] MACHINE FOR IRONING TROUSERS 2.994.978 8/1961 Skovira 38/21 3,208,652 9/l965 Zimmermann.... 223/57 X [76] Invent g g lfg 452 Mane 3.425.141 2/1969 Fuhring 223/74 x er ermany [22] Filed: Feb. 27, 1973 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin [21] pp NO 336 330 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fleit, Gipple & Jacobson 57 BSTR T [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 A Mar 27 972 Germany 2214970 The machine comprises an ironing plate, which is adapted to be pressed against a stationary support, or [52] Us. CL 38/21 223/73 two ironing plates, which are adapted to be pressed [51] Int. Cl. 71/00 against a stationary, intermediate body having a inter- [58] Field /57 72 74 mediate recess, with the legs of the trousers being interposed between the ironing plates and said body. [56] References Cited The ironing plates and the support body are provided L with divided pressure plates, which extend substan- UNITED STATES PATENTS tially parallel to the creases and are disposed on both l Lauzon r. ides of the trouser eam 2,627,128 2/l953 Jones 38/2l 2,669,374 2/1954 Jones 223/57 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIE SEPI 71914 SHEET 1 BF 5 PAIENTED SEF I 71974 SHEET 3 [IF 5 PAIENIEDSEP 1 mm SHEET 5 [IF 5 MACHINE FOR IRONING TROUSERS This invention relates to a machine for ironing trousers, which comprises an ironing plate, which is adapted to be pressed against a stationary support, or two ironing plates, which are adapted to be pressed against a stationary intermediate body having an intermediate recess, with the legs of the trousers being interposed between the ironing plates and said body.

In modern machines for ironing trousers, the trousers are steamed under pressure, after which the steam is sucked off and the trousers are dried. Different machines for ironing trousers are known for carrying out these operations.

Conventional machines for ironing trousers comprise an upholstered, stationary support and a hinged cover, which constitutes an ironing plate. One of the creases of the trousers can be inserted between said support and cover so that the trousers to be ironed must be laid into the machine four times. A simpler operation is accomplished by ironing machines into which an entire leg of the trousers is laid at a time so that the time required to iron a pair of trousers is reduced by about one half. The ironing time can be reduced further by the use of a known machine in the use of which the lower leg of the trousers is laid into the machine, the upper leg of the trousers is laid on the lower leg with a screen interposed, and the legs are then jointly pressed.

With these known machines for ironing trousers, the latter can be ironed substantially only at their legs. For this reason, said machines are used in most cases in conjunction with so-called toppers, which serve to process the trousers adjacent to the waistband. Additional laying and ironing operations are required to iron the trousers at their middle seam creases. The ironing operations which can be performed with these known machines for ironing trousers are time consuming and require skilled labor and have the further disadvantage that sewn creases, trouser pockets, button straps, stitched seams and the like are impressed into the fabric by the pressing operation and are thus rendered visible so that the trousers are unsightly in appearance when ironed.

The ironing time is reduced and the inserting operations are simplified in another known machine for ironing trousers, which is disclosed in the Opened German application No. 2,017,394 and in which two ironing plates are pressed with the legs of the trousers interposed against an intermediate body, which is straddled by the trousers having depending legs, which are disposed in a recess in the intermediate body. While the trousers can be inserted in a simpler manner into that known machine for ironing trousers and the latter irons the entire trousers, also at the middle seam crease, and eliminates the need for a so-called topper, it still has the disadvantage that seams and folds of the trousers can be impressed into the fabric.

In another machine for ironing trousers, the latter are horizontally disposed and are gripped only adjacent to their creases, whereafter the trousers are steamed and dried. In this machine for ironing trousers, seams or folds will not be impressed into the fabric as the trousers are pressed. However the machine does not iron the entire trousers and the insertion of the trousers is rendered more difficult so that skilled labor is required to operate the machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine which serves to iron trousers at a high rate and which can easily be operated and prevents an impression of seams or folds into the fabric and results in ironed trousers which are pleasing in appearance.

In a machine for ironing trousers which is of the kind previously defined this object is accomplished in that the ironing plates and the support or the intermediate body are provided with divided pressure plates, which extend substantially parallel to the creases and are disposed on both sides of the trouser seam. The machine according to the invention can easily be operated and the trousers can be inserted into the machine even by unskilled labor. The trousers, inclusive of the middle seam creases, are ironed by a single stroke and are rendered smooth adjacent to the legs. Because the trouser seam is not subjected to ironing pressure, said seam cannot be impressed into the fabric so as to give an unsightly appearance.

Trousers which are particularly well ironed can be obtained if the trousers are stretched as they are pressed, steamed, and ironed. For this reason it is contemplated by the invention that the pressure plates which are provided in pairs and are spaced apart adjacent to the trouser seam are movable at right angles to the trouser seam and when applying the ironing pressure move in the direction from the trouser seam toward the creases.

A machine is known which serves to iron trousers and which has a support which is curved and upholstered and a concave ironing plate which is adapted to be lowered onto and pressed against the support. The trousers are placed on the support before the pressing operating begins. The radius of curvature of the support is reduced during the pressing operation so that the trousers are stretched. That known ironing machine has the disadvantage that the trouser seam and folds can be impressed into the fabric. Besides, that known machine differs basically in design from the subject matter of the invention so that it cannot render the latter obvious. Whereas other machines are known which serve to iron trousers and in which the trousers are stretched as they are pressed and steamed, it is more complicated to insert the trousers into these machines, which are also basically different in design so that they too cannot suggest the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the divided pressure plates are interconnected by spring plates having curved central portions adjoined by flat flanges. The pressure plates may be secured at the apex or center of the curved portions of the spring plates to the member which carries the pressure plates. The free sides of the divided pressure plates are desirably sup ported by low-friction edges. When an ironing pressure is exerted on the pressure plates which are interconnected by the curved spring plates, the pressure plate will resiliently yield and will be displaced outwardly so as to stretch the trousers which have been inserted.

The low-friction edges are desirably adjustable in height to permit of an adjustment of the contact pressure. Since the pressure plates which are superimposed during the pressing operation yield resiliently under the pressure applied and are displaced so as to stretch the trousers, they exert compressive and tensile stresses on the trousers in an ideal combination.

The divided pressure plates are sealed at their free ends by heat-resisting elastic material, which prevents an undesired disengagement of the free ends of the pressure plates from the low friction edges.

In a development of the invention, a hanging of the trousers on a U-shaped member which is adjustable in height is enabled in that a heated carrier is provided, which is disposed over the intermediate body. Because the carrier is heated, rising steam cannot condense on the carrier to form droplets, which could fall on the trousers and form spots thereon.

Further in accordance with the invention, the intermediate body is formed at the bottom of its substantially V-shaped intermediate recess with a steam outlet opening, which can be closed by a valve. Steam is supplied through said outlet opening to the waistband por tion of the trousers so that said portion is steamed in the manner which is usual in conventional toppers. When the removal of the steam by suction begins, the steam outlet opening is closed by a valve so that the suction is not undesirably concentrated at the steam outlet opening. I

Hinged plates are preferably provided to hold the trousers in position on the body. These hinged plates are suitably additionally hinged on an axis which lies in the plane of the respective hinged plate and have angled, resilient legs, which after an inward pivotal movement engage a fixed stop and resiliently force the hinged plates against the intermediate body.

An embodiment of the invention will now be explained more fully and by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the ironing machine with the trousers suspended therein,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of an ironing plate, partly broken away,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an ironing plate,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of the intermediate body formed with a intermediate recess and partly broken away,

FIG. 5 is a partly sectional view showing the pressure plates of an ironing plate and one side of the intermediate support body when the machine is partly open,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5 and shows the machine in its closed condition and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the hinged fixing plates.

In the ironing machine shown in FIG. 1, a stationary support body 1 formed with a substantially V-shaped recess 5 has an enlarged base, which is secured to the stand 4 of the machine. The stationary support body 1 extends from its base upwardly in the form of a slender key, which has a rounded top portion. Pressure plates 2, 3 are hinged on axes 14 which are parallel to the inclined surfaces of the support body 1 and disposed adjacent to the base of the latter so that the pressure plates 2, 3 can be swung into engagement with the intermediate support body 1. The opening and closing movements are imparted to the ironing plates 2 and 3 by pneumatic or hydraulic actuators 9, 10.

A support 39 is disposed behind the intermediate support body 1, as viewed from the operators side, and protrudes over the body. A horizontally extending carrier 31 is secured to the support 39 and protrudes over the recess 5. The carrier consists of a hollow body having an inlet 34 and an outlet 35 for superheated steam. Sleeves 33 extend through the carrier, which serve as guides for the free legs 32 of the U-shaped member 12.

The free legs 32 of the U-shaped member 12 are interconnected by a yoke 41, to which a rope 40 is connected, which is trained around pulleys 36, 37 and at its other end carries a weight 38. The weight 38 is selected so that when a pair of trousers on a hanger 11 are suspended from the U-shaped member 12, the trousers will remain in the desired, adjusted elevation.

FIG. 2 shows details of a part of an ironing plate, from which the upholstery 50 has been partly lifted. The ironing pressure plates 2, 3 consist of substantially U-shaped elongated frames having a flat baseplate 43 and angled edge portions 27. Channel bars 42 extend parallel to the trouser scam in the middle of the baseplate 43. A curved spring plate 25 is secured along its center line with screws or rivets 46 to said channel bars. The curved portion of each spring plate 25 is continued by flat flanges 47, to which the pressure plates 23 are secured by screws or rivets 48. The pressure plates 23 are formed with numerous holes 49 and with their free ends are supported on low-friction rails 26. These lowfriction rails 26 may consist of angle irons, which are vertically adjustable in slots 44 of the rim 27 of the frame when the screw 45 has been loosened. When a pressure is applied, the pressure plates 23 move on the low-friction edges 26. The latter may be provided with rollers 30 or balls to reduce the friction. The pressure plates 23 are sealed against the frame by rubber seals 28, which prevent a lifting of the pressure plates. Steam-heated or electrically heated heaters 29 are provided in the frame behind the pressure plates 23. These heaters are required to prevent a moistening of the machine or its upholstery by condensed water.

The divided pressure plates, which are interconnected by the spring plates 25, are disposed in the intermediate support body basically in the same manner as in the frame of the ironing plates which can be pressed against the intermediate support body. A two-legged carrier is secured to the stand 4 of the machine, and the spring plates 25 are screwed or riveted along their apex to said carrier 60. The screws or rivets may be directly connected to the carrier or to an interposed rail 66. The intermediate support body is laterally bounded by triangular plates 63, to which the low-friction edge members 61 are secured, which support the pressure plates 23 at their free ends. Adjacent to the recess 5, the pressure plates 23 are sealed against each other by rubber strips 28. Sealing rubber strips 28 are also provided between the free ends of the pressure plates 23 and the upstanding side plates 63. A relatively large steam outlet opening 64 is disposed in the lowermost portion of the recess 5 adjacent to the middle seam of the trousers. That opening is provided with a lip valve, which consists of simple rubber flaps 65, which open when steam is blown out and which close as soon as the suction and drying operations begin.

Hinged fixing plate assemblies are secured to the upstanding carrier plates 63 on the sides of the intermediate support body I and are operable by pneumatic actuators 22. A bell-crank lever 21 is pivoted on a pin 16, which is secured to the plate 63. One end of the bellcrank lever 21 is pivoted at one end to the fluidoperated actuator 22 and at its other end carries a horizontally extending, flat iron bar 20. The hinged plates 15 for holding the suspended trousers in position are connected to the two free ends of the flat iron bar 20 by hinges 69. The hinged plates 15 are connected to angled, resilient lever arms 17, which are bent from the plates approximately at right angles and extend approximately parallel to the holding bar and with their free ends overlap. As the hinged plates are swung in, the angled spring arms 17 engage a stop 19, which is mounted on the carrying plate 63 so that the hinged plates 15 resiliently press the trousers against the pressure plates 23. When the hinged fixing plates 15 are to be swung out, a compression spring 18 engaging the spring legs facilitates the opening of the hinged plates. The pneumatic actuator for swinging in the hinged plates 15 is controlled by a pedal switch, not shown.

FIG. 5 shows portions of two of the pressure plates, which are disposed opposite to each other in pairs, in the partly open machine. The flat-ended, flangelike legs 47 of the spring plates are connected to the pressure plates 23 by screws or rivets 48. The spring plates may have a continuous curvature or, as shown in FIG. 5, have the cross-section of a dish which has a flat bottom. The pressure plate 23 are covered by a continuous pad 50, which has a fold adjacent to the spring plates 25 and is covered by fabric 53.

FIG. 6 shows the ironing machine in a closed state. It is readily apparent that the trouser seam 54 lies adjacent to the gap which is covered by the spring plates 25 so that no pressure is applied to the trouser seam 54.

It will also be readily understood and is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 6 that when the pressure plates 23 have applied a pressure they move through the distance a in the direction of the arrows 55 away from the trouser seam 54 toward the creases of the trousers. In this way, the trousers are stretched and tensioned as desired when subjected to the ironing pressure. At the same time, no pressure is applied to the trouser seam so that the same cannot become impressed during the ironing operation.

The ironing operation is performed as follows:

When the trousers are clamped in the hanger 11 so that they are flattened at their waistband, the operator suspends the trousers in the U-shaped member 12 and moves them to the desired elevation. The trousers should be aligned so that the middle seam is spaced 2-3 times the width of a finger above the steam outlet opening 64. The actuator 22 is then operated to swing the fixing plates 15 inwardly. The suction device is started at the same time so that the trousers are sucked against the intermediate body by the suction acting through the numerous openings 49. The trousers can now easily be aligned. The actuators 9, 10 are then operated to swing the hinged ironing plates 2, 3 against the trousers so that these plates apply pressure to the legs 8 of the trousers and to the seams of the trousers adjacent to the waistband. The pneumatic actuator 22 is then operated once more to swing off the fixing plates 15. At the same time, quick-closing valves are pneumatically controlled to terminate the suction and to open the steam supply valve. While the trousers are stretched under ideal conditions, they are steamed by the steam which is supplied. After the steaming, the pneumatically controlled quick-closing valves are operated to close the steam supply valve and to open the suction valve so that the steam is sucked off and the trousers are dried.

The ironing machine permits a satisfactory ironing of trousers with a formation of creases not only at the legs of the trousers but without transition also adjacent to the waistband. Adjacent to the waistband, the trousers are steamed at the same time by the steam which emerges from the opening 64 so that the portion adjacent to the waistband is also satisfactorily processed. With conventional machines, this was possible only by the use of special toppers. The ironing machine permits of a high-quality ironing of trousers in a simple manner which was not possible with conventional machines. At the same time, the machine can iron trousers at a high rate. Because the trousers can be inserted into the machine in a simple manner, the machine can be operated even by unskilled labor.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for ironing trousers, comprising a machine stand, a stationary trouser support body mounted on the stand, a pressing member movable with respect to the stand, and means effective to move the pressing member to and from a closed operative position at which the pressing member is urged against the support body, wherein the support body and pressing member are each provided with a pair of substantially coplanar displaceable pressing plates, the plates of one pair being disposed to be in confronting relationship with the plates of the other pair when the pressing member is .in the operative position, and wherein the pressing plates of each pair are separated by an elongated gap, means being provided enabling the plates of each pair to move further apart when the pressing member is being urged against the support body.

2. A machine according to claim 1 comprising one said movable pressing member associated with each of two opposite sloping faces of said common support body which has a recess formed at its top and is provided with two pairs of said pressing plates.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the pressing plates of each pair are resiliently held at a spacing from one another by means of at least one plate spring interconnecting same.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein a single plate spring for each pair of pressing plates of the support body extends centrally of the support body up to the said recess.

5. A machine according to claim 3, wherein each plate spring is dished in cross-section and comprises an intermediate portion secured to a rail extending from the machine stand and marginal portions connected to the associated pressing plates.

6. A machine according to claim 3, wherein edges of the pressing plates remote from the plate springs are connected to resilient sealing strips of heat-resistant material.

7. A machine according to claim 3, wherein edges of the pressing plates remote from the plate springs are supported on slideways.

8. A machine according to claim 7, including friction-reducing rollers mountedon the slideways.

9. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the slideways for the pressing plates of each pressing member are formed by angle irons which are adjustably secured to a frame of the said pressing member.

10. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the pressing members and support body are provided with a covering of padding overlying the pressing plates.

11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein the padding is provided with a channel extending along the plate spring centrally thereof.

12. A machine according to claim 1, including a horizontal beam extending above the support body and carrying a vertically-adjustable bracket which is provided with means for suspending a trouser hanger therefrom.

13. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the recess is substantially V-shaped and is provided with a valved steam outlet orifice at its deepest part.

14. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the support body is provided with a pair of spaced clamping jaws which are mounted so as to permit them to be swung to a position where they overlie the sloping faces of the support body and which are adapted to be moved towards one another to press on said sloping faces.

15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein each jaw is joined to one end of a spring arm which is curved away from the abutment. 

1. A machine for ironing trousers, comprising a machine stand, a stationary trouser support body mounted on the stand, a pressing member movable with respect to the stand, and means effective to move the pressing member to and from a closed operative position at which the pressing member is urged against the support body, wherein the support body and pressing member are each provided with a pair of substantially coplanar displaceable pressing plates, the plates of one pair being disposed to be in confronting relationship with the plates of the other pair when the pressing member is in the operative position, and wherein the pressing plates of each pair are separated by an elongated gap, means being provided enabling the plates of each pair to move further apart when the pressing member is being urged against the support body.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 comprising one said movable pressing member asSociated with each of two opposite sloping faces of said common support body which has a recess formed at its top and is provided with two pairs of said pressing plates.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the pressing plates of each pair are resiliently held at a spacing from one another by means of at least one plate spring interconnecting same.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein a single plate spring for each pair of pressing plates of the support body extends centrally of the support body up to the said recess.
 5. A machine according to claim 3, wherein each plate spring is dished in cross-section and comprises an intermediate portion secured to a rail extending from the machine stand and marginal portions connected to the associated pressing plates.
 6. A machine according to claim 3, wherein edges of the pressing plates remote from the plate springs are connected to resilient sealing strips of heat-resistant material.
 7. A machine according to claim 3, wherein edges of the pressing plates remote from the plate springs are supported on slideways.
 8. A machine according to claim 7, including friction-reducing rollers mounted on the slideways.
 9. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the slideways for the pressing plates of each pressing member are formed by angle irons which are adjustably secured to a frame of the said pressing member.
 10. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the pressing members and support body are provided with a covering of padding overlying the pressing plates.
 11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein the padding is provided with a channel extending along the plate spring centrally thereof.
 12. A machine according to claim 1, including a horizontal beam extending above the support body and carrying a vertically-adjustable bracket which is provided with means for suspending a trouser hanger therefrom.
 13. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the recess is substantially V-shaped and is provided with a valved steam outlet orifice at its deepest part.
 14. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the support body is provided with a pair of spaced clamping jaws which are mounted so as to permit them to be swung to a position where they overlie the sloping faces of the support body and which are adapted to be moved towards one another to press on said sloping faces.
 15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein each jaw is joined to one end of a spring arm which is curved so that the two spring arms overlap at their other ends, an abutment being provided on the support body at a location such that, when the jaws have been swung to said overlying position, the overlapping spring arm ends are depressed by the abutment and resiliently press the jaws on said sloping faces.
 16. A machine according to claim 15 including a coil spring underlying said overlapping spring arm ends and effective to urge same so as to cause the jaws to release the said sloping faces when the pair of jaws is swung away from the abutment. 